Series at risk after Paine-ful delay
TIM Paine’s captaincy has come under the microscope again after Australia defied 90 years of history and opted not to declare in the must-win Test against India at the Gabba.
Paine’s leadership came under fire from Australia legends Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist after India was set a record-breaking target to win the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With the pulsating series locked at 1-all, and India the current holders of the trophy, Australia must win the rain-affected match on day five to regain the silverware with fast bowler Mitchell Starc battling a hamstring complaint.
But they have taken a conservative approach in doing so after choosing to bat out their second innings on Monday with rain looming and time running out.
Australia set India a daunting 328 to win after being bowled out for 294, Steve Smith (55) the only batsman to pass 50 in the innings.
India was 0-4 at stumps after rain caused the last 90 minutes of play to be abandoned. More rain is forecast today.
While 328 seems an achievable target, the highest successful run chase in 90 years of Gabba Tests was Australia’s 7-236 against the West Indies in 1951.
That means India must break the record by nearly 100 runs to win the Test and series, thrusting the spotlight on Australia’s tactics in a must-win match.
A loss would be disastrous for Australia’s hopes of playing in the Test Championship final at Lord’s later this year and an overly-attacking declaration could have opened the door for an India miracle.
However the decisions of Paine and Australia’s brains trust will be scrutinised if India can produce another fighting display like they did in Sydney last week to salvage a draw.
Paine apologised after losing his cool at the SCG and Australia’s tactics against injury-ravaged India have again come under scrutiny.
“He’ll be really disappointed with his wicket keeping the last two matches,” Gilchrist told Fox Cricket.
“Captaincy-wise, I think he will reflect on some of the tactics he put in place in Sydney and even here in this first innings, trying to chase down those 10 wickets.
“It’s maybe taken some of the gloss off his captaincy and his leadership, particularly the incident in Sydney where he came out and admitted he got it wrong, he went below the standards he set himself.”
Warne said Paine’s captaincy had failed in the past two Tests.
“He had 130-odd overs to bowl out India in Sydney. You’ve got to give credit to India but there were times Australia didn’t get it right,” he said.
“There were times here in Brisbane in the first innings where they had an opportunity. They’ve had plenty of opportunities to grab this series and win the series but they haven’t been able to.”
“At the end of the day you’re captain, you have to take responsibility.”
After opting to remain in Australia following the death of his father in November, India fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj (5-73) celebrated a special moment in his third Test by claiming his first five-wicket haul. Siraj claimed the key
scalps of Marnus Labuschagne (25), Smith (55) and Matthew Wade (0) before cleaning up Australia’s tail in tandem with day three hero Shardul Thakur (4-61).
Smith said declaring because of impending rain was a risky tactic.
“I don’t know (how we are positioned), it’s hard to know obviously with the rain comThe ing,” he said. “We’re not weathermen and don’t know it’s coming. You have to play the game as you see it.
“The game is in a nice place for us. The wicket started to play a few tricks today, a couple of balls shot up. Tomorrow it’s going to be about bowling good areas.
“I wasn’t involved in those (declaration) conversations. wicket’s certainly different to Sydney, there’s a bit more happening here.
“The Indian players have batted well. We bowled 130 overs in Sydney and it’s a different wicket to that.
“It’s about being patient, not searching too much and letting it happen.”
Starting the day 0-21, Australia looked to be in cruise control early, navigating the first hour before openers Marcus Harris (38) and David Warner (48) fell within minutes to leave the hosts 2-91.
Labuschagne and Wade left Australia teetering at 4-123 after losing 4-34, before Smith and Cameron Green (37) steadied the ship to help post what should be an unbeatable target.
THEY’VE (AUSTRALIA) HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GRAB THIS SERIES AND WIN THE SERIES BUT THEY HAVEN’T SHANE WARNE ON FOX CRICKET